Rescue team makes volunteer call

Volunteers are being called on to join a mountain rescue team.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team covers County Durham and parts of the High Pennines including Cross Fell, the highest mountain in the range.

The team says it is looking for keen walkers or climbers, with basic hill skills such as being able to read a map and take bearings.

An open evening is being held at the Team's Rescue Centre, in Barnard Castle, on Wednesday at 1930 GMT.

The team is involved in on average 35 call outs a year, some lasting only an hour or two and some which cover a number of days. But members are not expected to attend every call out.

Youth group

Spokesman Steve Owers said: "We will give training in mountain rescue skills and casualty care during a one-year probationary period.

"Also, because we are a charity and have to raise all of the funds needed to run the team ourselves we would expect new members to take part in fundraising events such as street collections, sponsored events etc."

Last year, the team was awarded £25,000 from the government to develop its innovative work with youngsters.

The money was for new equipment and training for the youth group.